Obituary of John Paul Hayes

John Paul Hayes, 72, of Baldwinsville, died peacefully at Crouse Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. He was the loving husband of Kathleen Case Hayes. John was born in Syracuse, NY on Aug. 19, 1947, the son of Paul and Margaret Hayes. He resided in Baldwinsville most of his life and graduated from C.W. Baker High School in 1965. He attended Onondaga Community College for one year before entering the Police Academy. After 18 years of service with the Clay, Dewitt and Baldwinsville police departments, John retired from active duty in 1988. During his career, John found time to volunteer and serve his community in many ways. He was a member of the Lysander Parks and Recreation Committee, managed the annual scholarship fund for the Baldwinsville Central School District and served on the Canton Woods Senior Center Board of Directors. While on the Parks and Recreation Committee, John was instrumental in the funding approval, planning and construction of the Lysander Ice Rink. He was also a Boy Scout leader for Troop 80 and Troop 71 and was very proud that both of his sons achieved Eagle Scout status under his leadership. John was named Baldwinsville's Man of the Year in 1994. John and his wife, Kathie bought the Hosler Insurance Agency in Baldwinsville in 1992 and expanded the business by opening another office in Fulton. They sold the business and retired (again) in 2004. In 2005, they moved to Oswego and bought, refurbished and re-opened the Evergreen Hills Golf Course in Oswego which the Hayes family still owns and operates. John and Kathie spent their winters in Zephyrhills, Fla., and the rest of the year at their home (that John built) on Lake Ontario in Oswego. John loved many things in life, including golf, camping, fishing, traveling and reading. Enjoying these things with his wife, children and grandchildren was the highlight of his life. In addition to his wife John is survived by his children and their spouses: Kevin Hayes and his wife Heather, Kimberly Kelley and her husband Mike, Keith Hayes and his wife Lisa; seven grandchildren: Aidan, Ava and Connor Kelley, Keagan, Logan, Cierra and Callen Hayes; his sister Joan Marie Doran and her husband Mike. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Jeffrey Hayes. A celebration of John's life is 11 am Jan. 4 at Grace Episcopal Church, 110 Oswego St. Baldwinsville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at https://www.jdrf.org/.